U.S. patent number 10,012,811 [Application Number 15/364,451] was granted by the patent office on 2018-07-03 for mid-board pluggable optical devices, assemblies, and methods.
The grantee listed for this patent is Ciena Corporation. Invention is credited to Kevin Estabrooks, Daniel Rivaud, Gregory Vanderydt.
United States Patent |
10,012,811 |
Rivaud , et al. |
July 3, 2018 |
Mid-board pluggable optical devices, assemblies, and methods
Abstract
A pluggable optical module, including: a pluggable module unit
including an optical connector disposed at a front end portion
thereof and an electrical connector disposed at a rear bottom
portion thereof, wherein the optical connector is configured to be
optically coupled to an optical fiber, and wherein the electrical
connector is configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical
connector disposed on an electrical board. Optionally, the
pluggable module unit includes a pluggable module adapter secured
to a pluggable module body. The electrical connector is then
disposed at a rear bottom portion of the pluggable module adapter.
A pluggable optical module aggregator, including: a housing; an
electrical board; a plurality of electrical connectors and a bulk
electrical connector consolidating and terminating the plurality of
electrical connectors and accessible from the exterior of the
housing; and a plurality of optical connectors and a bulk optical
connector consolidating and terminating the plurality of optical
connectors and accessible from the exterior of the housing.
Inventors: |
Rivaud; Daniel (Ottawa,
CA), Estabrooks; Kevin (Nepean, CA),
Vanderydt; Gregory (Ottawa, CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ciena Corporation |
Hanover |
MD |
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
62190146 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/364,451 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180149819 A1 |
May 31, 2018 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B
6/3817 (20130101); G02B 6/4278 (20130101); G02B
6/4292 (20130101); G02B 6/3814 (20130101); G02B
6/426 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G02B
6/42 (20060101); G02B 6/38 (20060101); H01R
31/06 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rahll; Jerry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Clements Bernard Walker PLLC
Bernard; Christopher L. Baratta, Jr.; Lawrence A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pluggable optical module, comprising: a pluggable module unit
comprising an optical connector disposed at a front end portion
thereof and an electrical connector disposed at a rear bottom
portion thereof, wherein the pluggable module unit comprises a
pluggable transceiver, wherein the optical connector is configured
to be optically coupled to an optical fiber, wherein the electrical
connector is configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical
connector disposed on an electrical board, wherein the pluggable
module unit comprises a pluggable module adapter secured to a
pluggable module body and comprising one or more protruding flanges
along a bottom edge thereof that are selectively disposed beneath
one or more raised rails coupled to the electrical board, wherein
the pluggable module body comprises the pluggable transceiver.
2. The pluggable optical module of claim 1, wherein the electrical
connector is disposed at a rear bottom portion of the pluggable
module adapter.
3. The pluggable optical module of claim 2, wherein the pluggable
module adapter comprises electrical connectivity between the
electrical connector and the pluggable module body.
4. The pluggable optical module of claim 1, wherein the pluggable
module adapter and pluggable module body are selectively secured to
the electrical board by sliding the pluggable module adapter and
pluggable module body horizontally along the electrical board.
5. A pluggable optical module adapter, comprising: a pluggable
module adapter body configured to be selectively secured to an end
of a pluggable module, wherein the pluggable module comprises a
pluggable transceiver; an electrical connector disposed at an end
of the pluggable module adapter body configured to make electrical
contact with an electrical connector disposed at an adjacent end of
the pluggable module; an electrical connector disposed at a bottom
of the pluggable module adapter body configured to make electrical
contact with an electrical connector disposed on an electrical
board; electrical connections disposed between the electrical
connector disposed at the end of the pluggable module adapter body
and the electrical connector disposed at the bottom of the
pluggable module adapter body; and one or more protruding flanges
disposed along a bottom edge of the pluggable module adapter
body.
6. The pluggable optical module adapter of claim 5, wherein the
pluggable module comprises an optical connector disposed at an end
thereof opposite the electrical connector.
7. The pluggable optical module adapter of claim 5, wherein the one
or more protruding flanges are selectively disposed beneath one or
more raised rails coupled to the electrical board, thereby
selectively securing the pluggable module adapter to the electrical
board.
8. The pluggable optical module adapter of claim 7, wherein the
pluggable module adapter body is selectively secured to the
electrical board by sliding the pluggable module adapter
horizontally along the electrical board.
9. A pluggable optical module aggregator, comprising: a housing; an
electrical board disposed in the housing; a plurality of electrical
connectors coupled to the electrical board and a bulk electrical
connector consolidating and terminating the plurality of electrical
connectors and accessible from the exterior of the housing; and a
plurality of optical connectors coupled to the electrical board and
a bulk optical connector consolidating and terminating the
plurality of optical connectors and accessible from the exterior of
the housing, wherein the plurality of optical connectors and the
bulk optical connector are optically coupled via a plurality of
optical fibers within the housing; and wherein the plurality of
electrical connectors and the plurality of optical connectors are
configured to collectively receive and retain a plurality of
pluggable optical modules within the housing.
10. The pluggable optical module aggregator of claim 9, wherein the
plurality of pluggable optical modules are secured to the
electrical board via a plurality of pluggable optical module
adapters selectively secured to the plurality of pluggable optical
modules.
11. The pluggable optical module aggregator of claim 9, further
comprising one or more power supplies and one or more cooling fans
disposed within the housing.
12. The pluggable optical module aggregator of claim 9, wherein the
plurality of pluggable optical modules are disposed within the
housing in a substantially horizontal configuration.
13. The pluggable optical module aggregator of claim 9, wherein the
plurality of pluggable optical modules are pivoted into the housing
via a plurality of pivoting, spring loaded electrical
connectors.
14. The pluggable optical module aggregator of claim 9, the bulk
electrical connector and the bulk optical connector are accessible
through a side of the housing.
15. The pluggable optical module aggregator of claim 9, wherein the
housing is configured to be disposed at the top or bottom of a rack
system.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to optical networking
systems and methods. More specifically, the present invention
relates to mid-board pluggable optical devices, assemblies, and
methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Data centers are required to move petabits of data per second,
demands are constantly growing, and costs must continuously be
contained in order for operations to be profitable. Space and power
are key monetization considerations within data centers, driving a
need for improved efficiency in the delivery of data over status
quo data networking equipment designs. It would seem that data
networking equipment manufacturers would take the following
approaches: 1) seek multi-source agreement (MSA) consensus
regarding the implementation of the reduction in size of existing
transceiver pluggable form factors so as to implement improved port
density of data networking gear faceplates; 2) develop new optical
interface cards, cables, and connectors to reduce the amount of
fiber required within a data center; and 3) achieve greater data
rates per optical fiber via new, higher speed standards. To a large
extent, however, these things have not occurred.
Data centers have already made significant investments in
transceivers to achieve status quo data transport rates and cost
favours the continued use of existing transceivers versus the
adoption of, and investment into, a new set of transceivers that
achieve the same status quo data transport rates. MSA consensus
takes time and requires early adoption, which costs may not enable.
A new transceiver form factor does not necessarily efficiently
mitigate equipment faceplate surface area as a bottleneck to the
number of hosted transceivers and, therefore, delivered traffic per
second. Optical transceivers are pluggable in nature due to the
number of possible optical interface standards, wavelengths, and
transmit power levels deployed at the connected interface at the
far end of the optical fiber. The development of a card that can
interface with a long list of possible far end standards is likely
not affordable for most manufacturers. The acceptance of a card
implementing a requirement for a rigid set of far end attributes
would likely not offer sufficient deployment flexibility to gain
industry adoption. Further, data rates are constrained by industry
adoption and limits imposed by physics.
Current solutions do not enable the strategic positioning of the
aggregate housing of transceiver interfaces, such as at the top or
bottom position of a rack so as to mitigate the extension of fiber
deployment within the rack. Thus, current solutions do little to
mitigate the space consumption and cost of the fiber itself.
Further, current solutions do not make modular the relationship
between a potentially "infinite" pool of aggregated transceiver
interfaces with any number of data traffic motherboard\processor
chassis based upon interconnection and bandwidth requirements.
Conventional data networking equipment is typically interconnected
using optical fiber (a thin glass fiber through which light can be
transmitted). At the termination point of the optical fiber is a
polished tip, as well as a connector, that secures the alignment of
the optical fiber to the transmit and receive components of the
fiber optic side of a pluggable transceiver. The device facing side
of these pluggable transceivers generally interconnects with the
device motherboard\processor(s) using a form factor and electrical
interface specified by a MSA among competing pluggable transceiver
manufacturers. Pluggable transceivers generally plug individually
into one of many possible MSA-compliant electrical interfaces on
the front faceplate of the same physical chassis that hosts the
motherboard\processor(s) that handle the ingress\egress traffic
transported on the connected optical fibers.
What is still needed in the art, however, is a technology that
moves the housing of the pluggable transceivers, and the connected
fibers, away from the faceplate of the chassis that hosts the
motherboard\processor(s), thereby enabling the strategic
positioning of the aggregate housing of transceiver interfaces,
such as at the top or bottom position of a rack so as to mitigate
the extension of fiber deployment within the rack, and mitigating
the space consumption and cost of the fiber itself. This would make
modular the relationship between the potentially "infinite" pool of
aggregated transceiver interfaces with any number of data traffic
motherboard\processor chassis based upon interconnection and
bandwidth requirements.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Moving the housing of the pluggable transceivers and connected
fibers away from the faceplate of the chassis that hosts the
motherboard\processor(s) achieves the mitigation of the
motherboard\processor chassis front faceplate surface area as a
bottleneck to the number of transceivers connected and, therefore,
the amount of traffic that can be handled by each connected device
motherboard\processor. The bulk insertion of transceivers into a
central, enclosed location improves the spatial efficiency and
security of optical fiber management and transceiver-to-optical
fiber connectivity. The delivery of traffic to one or many
connected motherboard\processor(s) using aggregate electrical
interface(s) per motherboard\processor chassis, instead of via many
individual optical interface\fiber per remote data networking
equipment ports, is a more robust and spatially efficient point of
interconnect. The enablement of a modular and variable ratio of
pluggable transceivers to motherboard\processor(s) that is not
bound by each motherboard/processor chassis faceplate surface area
is advantageous and enables the development of smaller and more
power efficient motherboard\processor chassis. Further, the
enablement of an improved data center rack design implementing
shorter (i.e. lower cost) and "cleaner" fiber runs by allows the
location of all rack transceivers at the top or bottom of a data
communications equipment rack. Optical fiber deployment without the
local use\space\cost of fiber connectors is thus possible.
The SFP aggregator of the present invention that hosts the
pluggable transceivers of the present invention has several
important characteristics. The SFP adapter of the present invention
enables electrical connection when making a horizontal insertion on
the board. A modular approach to on board optics is provided
without changes to conventional data networking cards or SFP
technologies. The present invention provides tray functionality,
providing access for loading pluggable transceivers, in bulk, to a
chassis without the front surface area being a bottleneck to the
number of transceivers hosted. The chassis achieves efficient
internal optical fiber management for the connectivity of
transceivers to far end equipment, while providing electrical
interfaces to one or many local processor chassis. Chassis external
cable related ports include a single conduit or aggregate interface
for bundled optical fiber packaging and a single conduit or
aggregate interface for electrical cabling. The physical protection
and security offered by the chassis presents an opportunity for
minimal cable\fiber sheathing and connector deployment towards the
hosted transceivers within the chassis.
Thus, the adapter of the present invention converts existing MSA
compliant SFP designs to onboard optics. The aggregator
mechanism\module allows pluggable transceivers to be deployed in
bulk to achieve alignment to the optical fiber end polished tips as
well as to the MSA compliant electrical pin connections of each
transceiver, mitigating the need for the spatial consumption and
some costs associated with transceiver pluggable materials, levers,
as well as fiber connectors. SFP optical interfaces are available,
as an option, on side facing panels, versus always being on the
motherboard\processor front faceplate. Dedicated pluggable
transceiver hosting, servicing one or multiple
motherboard\processor chassis, is provided, versus hosting
transceivers on the same chassis that hosts the
motherboard\processor(s) handling the delivered traffic.
The present invention thus enables the re-use of existing
transceiver investments within data centers and does not require
MSA consensus for a change to the transceiver form factor. It
maintains interoperability with far end equipment and does not
mandate a change in the implemented interface or optical data
transport standards. It maintains flexibility to connect to a range
of existing optical interface transceivers. It improves the amount
of data that can be exchanged with a motherboard\processor(s)
without mandating a new, higher speed interface standard. It
enables a modular and variable ratio of pluggable transceivers to
motherboard\processor(s) that is not bound by each
motherboard/processor chassis faceplate surface area. It enables
modular "pay as you grow models," where the ratio of pluggable
transceivers to motherboard\processor(s) is not fixed, enabling the
development of smaller and more power efficient
motherboard\processor chassis. Further, it enables improved data
center rack design implementing shorter (i.e. lower cost) and
"cleaner" fiber runs by, for example, locating all rack
transceivers at the top or bottom of the data communications
equipment rack.
In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a
pluggable optical module, including: a pluggable module unit
including an optical connector disposed at a front end portion
thereof and an electrical connector disposed at a rear bottom
portion thereof, wherein the optical connector is configured to be
optically coupled to an optical fiber, and wherein the electrical
connector is configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical
connector disposed on an electrical board. Optionally, the
pluggable module unit includes a pluggable module adapter secured
to a pluggable module body. The electrical connector is then
disposed at a rear bottom portion of the pluggable module adapter.
The pluggable module adapter includes electrical connectivity
between the electrical connector and the pluggable module body.
Optionally, the pluggable module adapter includes one or more
protruding flanges along a bottom edge thereof. The one or more
protruding flanges are selectively disposed beneath one or more
raised rails coupled to the electrical board, thereby selectively
securing the pluggable module adapter and pluggable module body to
the electrical board. Optionally, the pluggable module adapter and
pluggable module body are selectively secured to the electrical
board by sliding the pluggable module adapter and pluggable module
body horizontally along the electrical board.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a
pluggable optical module adapter, including: a pluggable module
adapter body configured to be selectively secured to an end of a
pluggable module; an electrical connector disposed at an end of the
pluggable module adapter body configured to make electrical contact
with an electrical connector disposed at an adjacent end of the
pluggable module; an electrical connector disposed at a bottom of
the pluggable module adapter body configured to make electrical
contact with an electrical connector disposed on an electrical
board; and electrical connections disposed between the electrical
connector disposed at the end of the pluggable module adapter body
and the electrical connector disposed at the bottom of the
pluggable module adapter body. The pluggable module includes an
optical connector disposed at an end thereof opposite the
electrical connector. Optionally, the pluggable module adapter body
also includes one or more protruding flanges along a bottom edge
thereof. The one or more protruding flanges are selectively
disposed beneath one or more raised rails coupled to the electrical
board, thereby selectively securing the pluggable module adapter to
the electrical board. Optionally, the pluggable module adapter body
is selectively secured to the electrical board by sliding the
pluggable module adapter horizontally along the electrical
board.
In a further exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a
pluggable optical module aggregator, including: a housing; an
electrical board disposed in the housing; a plurality of electrical
connectors coupled to the electrical board and a bulk electrical
connector consolidating and terminating the plurality of electrical
connectors and accessible from the exterior of the housing; and a
plurality of optical connectors coupled to the electrical board and
a bulk optical connector consolidating and terminating the
plurality of optical connectors and accessible from the exterior of
the housing, wherein the plurality of optical connectors and the
bulk optical connector are optically coupled via a plurality of
optical fibers within the housing. The plurality of electrical
connectors and the plurality of optical connectors are configured
to collectively receive and retain a plurality of pluggable optical
modules within the housing. Optionally, the plurality of pluggable
optical modules are secured to the electrical board via a plurality
of pluggable optical module adapters selectively secured to the
plurality of pluggable optical modules. The pluggable optical
module aggregator also includes one or more power supplies and one
or more cooling fans disposed within the housing. The plurality of
pluggable optical modules are disposed within the housing in a
substantially horizontal configuration. Optionally, the plurality
of pluggable optical modules are pivoted into the housing via a
plurality of pivoting, spring loaded electrical connectors.
Optionally, the bulk electrical connector and the bulk optical
connector are accessible through a side of the housing. Optionally,
the housing is configured to be disposed at the top or bottom of a
rack system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is illustrated and described herein with
reference to the various figures, in which like reference numbers
are used to denote like device or assembly components/method steps,
as appropriate, and in which:
FIG. 1 provides perspective and planar (bottom and end) views of
one exemplary embodiment of the pluggable module adapter of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 provides perspective and planar (end) views of one exemplary
embodiment of the electrical connector disposed on the board of a
pluggable module aggregator of the present invention and used in
conjunction with the pluggable module adapter and pluggable module
of the present invention;
FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a
conventional pluggable module used with the devices and assemblies
of the present invention;
FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of
the pluggable module adapter of the present invention securely
coupled to a generic pluggable module;
FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of
the electrical and optical connectors disposed on the board of the
pluggable module aggregator of the present invention and used in
conjunction with the pluggable module adapter and pluggable module
of the present invention;
FIG. 6 provides perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of
the pluggable module adapter and pluggable module being slidingly
inserted into raised rail structures disposed on the board of the
pluggable module aggregator of the present invention, thereby
completing the electrical connections with the electrical connector
disposed on the board and the optical connector disposed on the
board;
FIG. 7 provides an internal planar view of one exemplary embodiment
of the pluggable module aggregator of the present invention;
FIG. 8 provides external planar (side, front, and top) views of one
exemplary embodiment of the pluggable module aggregator of the
present invention; and
FIG. 9 provides perspective and planar (side) views of another
exemplary embodiment of a methodology for inserting the pluggable
modules of the present invention into the pluggable module
aggregator of the present invention, without the use of the
pluggable module adapter of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Again, the faceplates of conventional data networking systems are
typically very crowded with port density. As port density
increases, conventional modular designs primarily focus on one
insertion method. SFPs slide into a rack along a horizontal plane
perpendicular to the faceplate. The SFPs protrude slightly from the
faceplate and the optical fibers connect to this protruding portion
of the SFPs. Electrical connections are made via horizontal
connections at the back of the SFPs. The use of more SFPs, more
optical fibers, and more electrical connections provides more
capacity, at the expense of faceplate space, including long
entanglements of optical fiber.
Some conventional designs get around faceplate density issues by
using mid-board optics (MBOs). This frees up space on the
faceplate, allowing the user to implement specialized high density
optical connectors. The disadvantage to MBOs is that the end
customer essentially loses the modularity of SFPs. With MBOs, one
cannot expand port density or, alternatively, one must pay for port
density that is not needed.
The present invention provides modular pluggable optics with the
increased faceplate efficiency of MBOs by providing a novel
insertion method that allows modular pluggable optics to sit
mid-board.
Again, when SFPs are inserted into a conventional device and
connected to a fiber optic network they make two connections,
optical on the front side and electrical on the back side.
Consideration is given here as to how these two connections are
made mid-board. For example, an optical connection has less
tolerance than an electrical connection. For an optical connection,
polished fiber tips have to align inside an SFP housing (free of
dust) and lock into place to keep the alignment. Optical
connections are not served well if fibers make abrupt turns.
Optical connections are best achieved via the current method, with
fibers sliding into SFPs using standard connectors (e.g. LC
connectors).
The standard method for achieving connections is to have motion
along one axis, with mating achieved by connectors that must be on
one end of the module. This is how SFPs mate to their cage, how
blades mate with backplanes, how DIMMs mate with their connectors,
etc. The problem is how to achieve connection when connectors are
on the same axis, but pointed in opposite directions (e.g. optical
on SFP front side and electrical on the SFP back side).
The present invention solves these problems in a novel way. SFPs
are used as an example, but the method applies equally well for
XFPs, QSFPs, CFPs, etc.--including any pluggable device that has
opposed connectors on the same axis.
Referring now specifically to FIG. 1, in one exemplary embodiment,
the pluggable module adapter 10 of the present invention moves the
electrical connections of a pluggable module 12 (FIG. 3) from the
conventional rear facing back end 14 (FIG. 3) of the pluggable
module 12 to the bottom facing back end 16 (FIG. 3) of the
pluggable module 12. The optical connections of the pluggable
module 12 remain on the conventional front facing front end 18
(FIG. 3) of the pluggable module 12. The pluggable module adapter
10 includes a prismatic body 20 that typically approximates the
prismatic structure of the pluggable module 12. For example, in the
exemplary embodiment illustrated, both the prismatic body 20 of the
pluggable module adapter 10 and the prismatic structure of the
pluggable module 12 are substantially rectangular or box shaped.
The bottom edge of the pluggable module adapter 10 also includes a
plurality of protruding flanges 22. In use, the pluggable module
adapter 10 is secured to the pluggable module 12 via any suitable
connection mechanism, providing electrical connectivity from the
pluggable module 12 through the pluggable module adapter 10.
Accordingly, the pluggable module adapter 10 may be coupled to the
pluggable module 12, at least in part, via the same type of
connector that is typically used to couple the pluggable module 12
to the board in a conventional rack. Finally, the bottom of the
pluggable module adapter 10 includes downward facing electrical
connections 24 that are suitable for contacting and mating with
upward facing electrical connections provided in the pluggable
module aggregator of the present invention, as described in greater
detail herein below. The pluggable module adapter 10, and connected
pluggable module 12, are secured within this pluggable module
aggregator, at least in part, by the protruding flanges 22 of the
pluggable module adapter 10 and corresponding rail structures
provided with the pluggable module aggregator, as also described in
greater detail herein below. FIG. 4 illustrates the pluggable
module adapter 10 of the present invention securely coupled to a
generic pluggable module 12.
FIG. 2 provides perspective and planar (end) views of one exemplary
embodiment of the electrical connector 30 disposed on the board 42
(FIG. 7) of the pluggable module aggregator of the present
invention (described in greater detail herein below) and used in
conjunction with the pluggable module adapter 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4)
and pluggable module 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the present invention.
In this exemplary embodiment, the electrical connector 30 includes
a plurality of upward facing, spring loaded electrical contacts 26
arranged as appropriate to selectively mate with the downward
facing electrical connections 24 (FIG. 1) of the pluggable module
adapter 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the electrical contacts
26 include a plurality of V-shaped metallic strips that are spaced
apart from one another and arranged in spaced apart rows. The
electrical contacts 26 are surrounded by raised rail structures 28
each including vertical and horizontal members that are configured
to engage and retain the protruding flanges 22 (FIG. 1) of the
pluggable module adapter 10 when the pluggable module adapter 10 is
slid through the opposed open ends of the raised rail structures
28. Other retention mechanisms for securing the pluggable module
adapter 10 to the board 42 adjacent to the electrical contacts 26
such that the upward facing electrical contacts 26 of the board 42
are electrically coupled to the downward facing electrical
connections 24 of the pluggable module adapter 10 may also be
utilized.
FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of
the electrical connector 30 and an optical connector 32 disposed on
the board 42 (FIG. 7) of the pluggable module aggregator of the
present invention (described in greater detail herein below) and
used in conjunction with the pluggable module adapter 10 (FIGS. 1
and 4) and pluggable module 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the present
invention. The electrical connector 30 is described herein above.
The optical connector 32 includes a conventional fixed LC optical
connector or the like, suitable for make an optical connection with
the pluggable module 12 in a conventional manner. Accordingly, the
optical connector 32 includes connectorized protruding optical
fibers 34 that engage corresponding connectorized holes 36 (FIG. 3)
associated with the pluggable module 12.
FIG. 6 provides perspective views of one exemplary embodiment of
the pluggable module adapter 10 and pluggable module 12 being
slidingly inserted into the raised rail structures 28 disposed on
the board 42 (FIG. 7), thereby completing the electrical
connections with the electrical connector 30 (FIGS. 2 and 5)
disposed on the board 42 and the optical connector 32 disposed on
the board 42. Specifically, when the pluggable module 12 is slid
horizontally along the board 42 between the raised rail structures
28, the protruding flanges 22 of the pluggable module adapter 10
engage the raised rail structures 28, securing the pluggable module
adapter 10 and pluggable module 12 to the board 42 and completing
the electrical connections between the pluggable module adapter 10
and the electrical contacts 26 (FIG. 2) on the board 42 and the
optical connections between the pluggable module 12 and the optical
connector 32 on the board 42.
Referring now specifically to FIGS. 7 and 8, in one exemplary
embodiment, the pluggable module aggregator 40 of the present
invention is an assembly that houses optics separate from compute
devices and delivers compact electrical connections to the compute
devices. This has the advantage of freeing up space on switches,
routers, etc., as the pluggable modules 12 are no longer required
in the design of the switches, routers, etc. The pluggable modules
12 in the pluggable module aggregator 40 are aligned efficiently
and face the sides of the housing 44. This allows the fiber
connections to feed directly from the side fiber channel into the
pluggable module aggregator 40 and not feed into the faceplate 46.
As is illustrated, the board 42 is disposed within a housing 44,
providing a thin box or tray-like structure including a faceplate
46. Power and ventilation 48 is provided near the back of the
housing 44 via conventional power supplies and fans, for example.
The pluggable modules 12 are arranged horizontally side by side
along the length of the housing 44. The pluggable module adapters
10 and pluggable modules 12 engage a plurality of electrical
connectors 30 lined up on the board 42 along the central portion of
the housing 44 and a plurality of optical connectors 32 lines up on
the board 42 along the side portions of the housing 44. Others
physical configurations can be used, provided that adequate
pluggable module density is achieved. The electrical connectors 30
are consolidated and terminate to one or more bulk electrical
connectors 50 disposed through the sides of the housing 44.
Similarly, the optical connectors 32 are consolidated and terminate
to one or more bulk optical connectors 52 via a plurality of
internal optical fiber runs 51. In this manner, external electrical
wires and optical fibers can be consolidated and bundled to the
bulk optical connectors 50 and bulk optical connectors,
respectively, and the housing 44 may be disposed at the top or
bottom of the associated rack (not illustrated), such that the
length and complexity of wire and fiber runs can be minimized.
Again, the pluggable module aggregator 40 provides a modular
consolidation point for the electrical/optical connection points
for the optical networking system. The faceplates (not illustrated)
of the various rack components are thereby kept free from the
clutter of protruding pluggable modules 12 and connected optical
fibers. In most cases the electrical and optical connectors 50 and
52 are disposed on the sides of the pluggable module aggregator 40.
However, the connectors 50 and 52 can be placed in the front, back,
top, or bottom as well. The pluggable modules 12 can also be
mounted on sliders so that they can slide out for easy replacement.
The empty faceplate 46 of the housing 44 can be used for OAM
functions, LEDs, displays, etc.
FIG. 9 provides perspective and planar (side) views of another
exemplary embodiment of a methodology for inserting the pluggable
modules 12 of the present invention into the pluggable module
aggregator 40 of the present invention or the like, without the use
of the pluggable module adapter 10 (FIGS. 1, 4, and 6) of the
present invention. The electrical connection 30 is flexible and
mounted on a spring 60. The user inserts the electrical connection,
compressing the spring 60, and then folds the pluggable module 12
downwards until the pluggable module 12 is in a horizontal
position. As the pluggable module 12 is released, the spring 60
applies pressure, thereby securing the optical connection 32.
Although the present invention is illustrated and described herein
with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples
thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar
functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent
embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the
present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be
covered by the following non-limiting claims.
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